Shelagh Swanson, a farmer's daughter from Caithness, graduated in 2004 from Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen with BA (Hons) Fine Art/Painting. After graduation she returned to her home county where she discovered a passion for glass, in particular Fused Glass, at the International Centre of Excellence, North Lands Creative. Subsequent masterclasses and residencies in the UK and USA
strengthened her knowledge of the medium. After 10 years back in Aberdeen, she recently returned to her native Caithness where she creates work in both Painting and Glass to commission and for exhibition from her rural studio. Well known for her bold and expressive painterly aesthetic, her works are an emotional response to her surroundings. Recurring themes include her relationship to and experiences of landscape, especially of the Northern Highlands. Passionate about working within a community context, she has completed a number of participatory projects and residencies - including a 2017 Artist Residency at Duthie Park. Swanson now mainly works to commission with recent clients including The Silver Darling Restaurant, DC Thomson and Vattenfall. Her work is held internationally in both private and public collections
Her studio is currently being renovated and will be open by appointment in 2021 -
Shelagh Swanson Studio
1982 BORN - THURSO, CAITHNESS, SCOTLAND
TRAINING
2000 - 2004 BA(HONS) FINE ART/PAINTING GRAY'S SCHOOL OF ART, ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
2007 MASTERCLASS WITH SILVIA LEVENSON - NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND
2008 MASTERCLASS WITH ANN WOLFF - NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND
2009 MASTERCLASS WITH STEVE KLEIN AND KAFFE FASSETT - NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND
2014 TEACHER'S WORKSHOP - BULLSEYE GLASS CO, PORTLAND, OREGON, USA
2016 ART BUSINESS SPRING SCHOOL - CHRISTIES AUCTION HOUSE, LONDON
RESIDENCIES
2006 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND
2008 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE BROADFIELD HOUSE GLASS MUSEUM, KINGSWINFORD, ENGLAND
2010 "THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT" RESIDENCY AT NORTH LANDS CREATIVE GLASS, LYBSTER, SCOTLAND - FACILITATED BY STEVE KLEIN AND RICHARD PARRISH
2015 "FIRST LIGHT" RESIDENCY AT THE ARCTIC GLASS STUDIO, BERLEVAG, NORWAY - FACILITATED BY STEVE KLEIN AND RICHARD PARRISH
2017 ARTIST IN RESIDENCE, DUTHIE PARK, ABERDEEN
SELECTED CORPORATE CLIENTS
Verus Petroleum
The Oil and Gas Technology Centre
Vattenfall
DC Thomson
Opportunity North East
The Press And Journal
Scottish Business in The Community
Aberdeen And Grampian Chamber of Commerce
The Silver Darling Restaurant
Aberdeen City Council
NHS Grampian
The Archie Foundation
Grampian Food Forum
Stork Technical Services
Wood Group
Stronachs
KCA Deutag
Imajica Brand Evolution
Jump Marketing
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
SOLO
2017 David Welch Winter Gardens, Aberdeen
2017 Musa, Aberdeen
2016 Pentland Fine Art, Aberdeen
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Oil and Glass, Aberdeen
2012 Fonthill Road Gallery, Aberdeen
2009 Timespan Gallery - Helmsdale
2007 "The Mill" T3UK, Janetstown, Caithness
2006 "Dereliction" University of the Highlands and Islands, Wick Campus, Caithness
2004 ‘AB Alec Broon’ St Fergus Gallery, Wick, Caithness
GROUP
2021 Lindsey Gallacher Studio, Thurso
2020 "Coming Home" Aberdeen Artists Society
2020 North East Ensemble Eion Stewart Fine Art - Stonehaven
2018 2D Show - Aberdeen Artists Society Annual Exhibition- Haddo House
2018 "Experimental Use Of Space" Aberdeen Artists Society - Haddo House
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 The Butterworth Gallery, Ballogie, Aberdeenshire
2017 "Our Bodies Imprint" Haddo Country Park
2017 Alien Hole Gallery, Inverness
2016 Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
2016 Walton Fine Art, Knightsbridge, London
2016 Clifton Fine Art, Bristol
2016 Holburn Gallery, Aberdeen
2015 Three Man Show - Pentland Fine Art, Aberdeen alongside Joe Fan RSA and Philip Braham.
2015 Group Show - Pentland Fine Art, Aberdeen
2014, 2015 Mixed Show - The Green Gallery, Buchlyvie, Stirlingshire
2013, 2014 Society of Aberdeen Artists Annual Exhibition - Aberdeen Art Gallery
2014 Mixed Show - "Artist of the Month" Larks Gallery, Ballater
2013, 2014 Mixed Show - The Richard Colquhoun Gallery, Aberdeen inc Calum Colvin RSA OBE, John Bellany RA RSA CBE, Alan Robb RSA, Derrick Guild RSA
2013 "Portfolio" St James's Place Wealth Management, Aberdeen
2011 Mixed Show - Rosemount Gallery, Aberdeen
2010 "Vitreous North" Timespan Gallery, Helmsdale
2010 "Take Thirty" 30 Year Anniversary Exhibition - Broadfield House Glass Museum, West Midlands
2001-2010 ‘Society of Caithness Artists, Thurso
2008 “Glass Paper Paint” North Lands Creative Glass, Lybster
2008 ‘Found In Translation’ Red House Glass Cone, Stourbridge, West Midlands
2007 ‘Lassies’ St Fergus Gallery, Wick
2007 ‘Latitudes’ Recent Highland Graduates Exhibition. Tour of Highland Council Galleries
2006 ‘Contrasts’ Caithness Arts Festival Exhibition, St Fergus Gallery
2006 ‘Caithness Arts Week Exhibition’ Wick College, Caithness
2006 ‘Face North’ Lyth Arts Centre, Caithness
2006 Highland Open - Swanson Gallery, Thurso - St Fergus Gallery, Wick - Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
2004 - 2006 Wick Town Improvements, Wick, Caithness
2006 "Two Caithness Artists" Flitch Art Gallery, Greater Dunmow, Essex
2006 Inverness Airport Exhibition, Inverness
2006 ‘Makars in Progress’ Exhibition by ‘The Freswick Group’, St Fergus Gallery, Wick, Caithness
2005 ‘Cornucopia’ Swanson Gallery, Thurso, Caithness
2005 ‘Horizon - A showcase of Caithness Art and Crafts’ St Fergus Gallery, Wick, Caithness
2004 ‘New Generation Show’ Compass Gallery, Glasgow.
2004 ‘RSA Annual Student Exhibition’ The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh